Mainers, veterans deserve affordable health care

By Reps. Paul McGowan and Deane Rykerson

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Posted Dec. 21, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Posted Dec. 21, 2013 at 2:00 AM

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By Reps. Paul McGowan and Deane Rykerson

Those who serve in the military make great sacrifices to protect our country. Leaving for months at a time, our servicemen and women leave behind their families, homes and, in some cases, their civilian jobs to defend us. Despite the efforts we make to honor those who have served, many veterans find themselves without access to affordable health care.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs does a lot to provide health care to those who have served, there are still 1.3 million veterans in the United States who are uninsured. A common misconception is that all veterans receive comprehensive health services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, when in fact, a veteran's eligibility for VA services depends on a number of factors.

Uninsured veterans disproportionately have more health issues. Of the 1.3 million uninsured veterans, 40 percent have unmet medical needs. According to the Urban Institute, about half of America's uninsured veterans would benefit from health care expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

Most Americans would agree that we should do what is right for our veterans.

Earlier this year, we missed an opportunity to expand health coverage to 70,000 Mainers, including 3,000 veterans. Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a measure to accept federal health care dollars that would have helped them, created jobs and boosted our economy.

As the Legislature pursued health care expansion, we became familiar with the story of Navy veteran Tom Ptacek. He is one of the Mainers who will lose his coverage through MaineCare next month because the governor has not accepted the federal government's offer.

The Desert Storm veteran receives limited military benefits that don't cover the cost of seeing a doctor for the pain in his knee and ankle. He worries about a family medical history that includes multiple sclerosis and what he'll do if the pain in his leg turns into something serious.

While Ptacek's particular situation is his own, he is one of many veterans who would benefit from the security of health care coverage.

Preventive care is good not just for the individuals who receive it but also for keeping down health care costs for everyone. Putting off care early on means that conditions become more difficult and expensive to treat — sometimes reaching such severity that they require emergency room visits. Access to affordable, high-quality health care can mean the difference between life and death for some. In the case of cancer, for example, it is one of the very best ways to prevent the disease, diagnose it early and treat it effectively.

Other Republican governors across the country have chosen to accept the federal government's offer because they see that it will help those who need it. Gov. LePage should do what is right for Mainers and accept the federal offer.

According to a study by the non-partisan Kaiser Foundation and the conservative Heritage Foundation, Maine would have saved $690 million over the next decade had the bill not been vetoed.

Also, Maine would have seen the creation of more than 3,100 jobs and the injection of $250 million into our economy, according to the Maine Center for Economic Policy. Instead, we're losing out on $700,000 a day, or $500 per minute.

Health care expansion is a good deal for our economy and for those who would gain coverage.

Many of the Mainers who would benefit from health care expansion work in low-paying jobs that don't provide benefits. Someone who is already struggling to get by often can't afford a private insurance plan.

No one should have to worry that a serious injury or illness would lead to financial disaster. Everyone deserves affordable care when they need it, especially those who have served.

We ought to honor our veterans by providing them access to the affordable health care they need and have earned through their service.

Reps. Paul McGowan, D-York, and Deane Rykerson, D-Kittery, are serving their first terms in the Legislature.